A Devious Desire Read online

  Caught? What did he mean? She gazed up at the dark figure towering over her, and all trace of hysterias! humour left her. He was virtually naked; his robe, hanging loosely off his broad shoulders, hid nothing of his magnificent body, or his obvious state of sexual arousal. Her earlier fantasy was fulfilled. His powerful body was tanned all over, except for a pale strip across his lean hips! Mesmerised by the stark beauty of his virile form, she could not look away. . .

  'Remember, you've been warned, ' Alex said coldly as unselfconsciously he folded the robe over his chest and knotted the belt around his waist. 'Now I suggest you do what you were supposedly hired for and look after Mother.' And with that he strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

  Saffron lay where he had left her, completely shell-shocked. Nothing in her life so far had prepared her for such a lightning attack on her senses. Her body still pulsed with unfamiliar heat, her breasts felt heavy, the tips aching for she knew not what, and the lingering sœot of Alex hovered in the air around her, seducing her even in his absence.

  It was incredible—no, impossible, she told herself. She did not like the man, and yet for an instant she had wanted him in a shockingly sexual way. She who could count the men she had kissed on the fingers of one hand!

  Slowly, as her breathing reverted to normal, she justified her reaction. It must have been a mental apparition; her response was not real, just a figment of her imagination. She was twenty-five years old and knew herself well enough to realise she was not a sexual person. Two unfortunate events in her teenage years had quickly squashed any real interest in the male sex.

  At the age of ten she had lost her parents in a car crash and, left alone in the world, she'd been placed in an orphanage. It was quite nice, the staff friendly, but it could never make up for the loss of her home in Surrey and her parents. She had been thirteen, her body beginning to develop, when one of the older boys had caught her and forced her to the ground, his hands grabbing at her breasts. But Eve, her friend, had stopped him.

  Saffron sighed and swung her legs off the bed. A soft film of moisture glazed her eyes as she stood up, remembering the past. Eve, two years older than Saffron, had beai her best friend at the orphanage. Even after she'd left, she'd still called back occasionally to see Saffron. Eve's untimely death not many months ago had affected Saffron deeply; she still wasn't over it. She brushed the moisture from her eyes and headed for the en suite.

  Memories were best left where they belonged—in the past. She stepped out of her nightie and into the shower; turning the tap on full force, she tossed her head back and let the reviving water wash over her.

  The sensible thing to do was to pack in her job as soon as the boat docked and return to England. She would miss Anna, but common sense told her that the older woman would have no problem getting someone else to fill her role, and if she stayed she would have a problem with Alex Statis. He was a powerful, dangerous man, and he made no secret of the fact that he thought she was after something from his mother. It would be difficult; she had given up her room in the apartment she had shared with two others, Tom and Vera, and they had been quite happy to see her go as they had decided to marry, and quite naturally preferred to have the place to themselves. She supposed she could stay in a hotel or hostel untü she found somewhere else, but it would certainly cut into her business fund, she realised sadly. Then she recalled once more Eve's last message to her.

  You have it all, Saffron—the looks, the character and the expertise to make it on your own. Not like me. I was born a loser. Promise me, Saffron, you won't let some bastard of a man get at you. Stick to your dream. Start your own business, be your own boss. Do it for me. You show them.

  Squaring her shoulders, a new light of determination in her lovely green eyes, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Wrapping a large fluffy towel around her slender body, she walked back into the bedroom. She would not allow Mr Statis to frighten her out of her job. Anna had employed her. Anna was happy with the arrangement, and in any ease once they got back to London she would not have to see the man. But her salary for the next few months would be enough to fulfil her dream. Ten minutes later, neatly dressed in navy shorts and a plain white T-shirt, she opened the door of Anna's suite.

  'Oh, you're awake!' Saffron smiled at her employer, sitting propped up in bed, her glance going to the tray beside her. 'And already at the coffee, I see,' she chided gently; if Anna had one weakness it was that she drank far too much coffe.

  'Yes, my dear. I received the same servies as you, apparently, Alex delivered it.'

  Saffron felt the colour rise in her face. Anna certainly had not been attacked by the great brute as she had! Walking to the dressing-table, she busied herself with the ease that contained her oils and other supplies. Trying to hide her blush, she said, 'Would you life me to order breakfast or would you prefer a shower and massage?'

  "The massagesbut make it quick. I have been instructed by Alex to meet him on the deck for breakfast at nine-thirty, and I don't dare argue. I haw already wasted three days of his time, he informed me.'

  'Wasted!' Saffron's temper rose at the somment. 'Surely it's his own fault? We were perfectly all right on the Pallas Corinthian. This was his idea.' She flung out an arm, gesturing around the luxurious room.

  'Well, not exactly. I have a confession to make.'

  Saffron spun round to stare at her charge.

  'You see, dear, we always cruise in June for a week or so. But with Alex being in Australia and not sure when he was coming back I decided I wasted to cruise on ay own. . . well, with you. The poor boy arrived In London last weekend and didn't know where I was and so he spent three days tracking us down, instead of working. Ordinarily I would have joined the yacht at the weekend along with Alex and the rest of the relatives.'

  'If that's so, why are we moving now?' Saffron glanced out of the window at the vast expanse of clear sunlit water. 'We could have waited in port for the other guests and your son could have stayed at work.'

  "That's my fault, I insisted we set sail straight away because I was frightened that with a couple of days in port you might change your mind and go back to England. I know what a pain my son can be, and I didn't want to lose you. This way you can't get off the boat and I've told Alex he has got to make friends with you.'

  'Why, you conniving lady,' Saffron opined., with a wry shake of her red head.

  'Yes, but you know my secret. In any case no one can do my hair or make-up as well as you. Not even me when I was fit,' Anna said with blunt honesty.

  An hour later Saffron put the finishing touches to Anna's hair and then followed her along the passageway down the companionway, through the staterooms and through large glass doors to the poop deck where Alex was waiting for them.

  It bad been dark last night when they had arrived, but Saffron had been awed by the luxury of the cabins, the elegant main lounge and equally stunning dining-room, but the deck was something else again. Under a plain white awning were arranged three plump-cushioned long sofas covered in William Morris shades of blue and green printed cotton satin, a. couple of over-staffed armchairs and one large low table plus a handful of smaller ones discreetly stacked beside one of the potted vine trees that dotted the area. Beyond the seating area, on the open deck, was a circular swimming-pool. Through the sparkling water Saffron saw the outline of dolphins patterned in the tiles; the effect was as if they were swimming in the pool and completely magical. Around the pool was scattered a dozen sun-loungers, and a few more tables with gaily patterned beach umbrellas is the centre.

  How the other half live! Saffron thought, bemused. She had realised Anna was wealthy, but it was slowly dawning on her that Alex Statis must be extremely rich. No wonder he was worried about his mother being ripped off by some unscrupulous companion. But it still gave him no right to suspect her, she thought grimly. He didn't know her, and was never likely to. She was way below his social circle and she knew it.

  Subdued, Saffron sat
down in one of the armchairs, avoiding looking at where Alex lounged elegantly on a sofa opposite. But to her surprise breakfast was a pleasant meal. The same steward who had shown her to her cabin the previous evening placed a wide variety of cereals, croissants, bread and accompanying confections on the large table, along with jugs of coffee, tea and various fruit juices, before asking if anyone wanted a hot meal.

  The conversation was general. Saffron made an occasional comment but after a while she left mother and son to do most of the talking, content to admire her surroundings. It was early June, and the hot morning sun sparkled and danced on the deep blue sea, dazzling on the brilliant white of the boat. Paradise must be a lot like this, Saffron mused as she spread thick honey on a second warm croissant. Heaven help her weight if she kept eating like this. . .

  'Is that all right with you, Saffron?'

  She jumped at the sound of her name, her glance flashing between the other two. She felt that some comment was expected of her, but hadn't a clue what had been said.

  'Tell her again, Alex,' Anna said with a grin.

  Saffron reluctantly looked across at Alex. He was lounging casually back on the sofa, with his long legs stretched out in front of him. His hard, dangerously masculine body was briefly clad in a sleeveless black T-shirt that moulded his broad, muscular chest in loving detail. A pair of white shorts exposed his long legs, tanned to a golden bronze and rippling with muscles. He was all male, all-powerful, and he made her head spin. . .

  'We will be arriving in Mykonos in a couple of hours. Mother wanted to see the island again, but she does not feel up to going ashore in the tender.' He hesitated and Saffron raised her eyes to his questioningly.

  'She suggested I take you.' His sensuous mouth curved mockingly, his dark eyes raking suggestively over her slender frame. Saffron felt the colour rise in her face at his double entendre, before he added slowly, deliberately, 'For a few hours.'

  The lazy smile, the long body stretched out only feet from her were having a totally alien effect on her. She opened her mouth to say no, but was horrified at the odd constriction in her throat. She swallowed hard.

  'Yes, of course she will,' Anna answered for her. 'Mykonos is not to be missed.'

  'I don't know,' Saffron heard herself murmur; she knew intuitively that being alone with Alex Statis represented a danger she was not sure she could handle.

  'Of course you will, dear,' Anna insisted.

  Saffron glanced across at Alex; the amusement m hiseyes was obvious; he knew she wanted to say no, and was daring her to. . . 'Yes, that would be lovely,' she heard herself gush, and missed the flicker of cynicism in Alex's dark eyes,

  'Good. Well, if you will excuse me, ladies, I have work to do.' Rising to his feet, Ales smiled gently at hismother. 'Round one to you, Mama.'

  His austere features relaxed in a genuine smile that took years off his age and, though his comment puzzled Saffron for a brief second, she saw the man behind the ruthless mask. She sucked in her breath, her gaze eyes wide with wonder; he looked almost beautiful. But as he glanced briefly at her the tenderness vanished, to be replaced by a glittering predatory glow that turned his deep brown eyes almost golden.

  'I'm looking forward to showing you Mykonos. I want to see your reaction to the place.'

  A frisson of some nameless emotion slid down her spine. Fear! No. Anticipation of a day out, Saffron told herself sternly, nothing more! She refused to acknowledge her inexplicable violent attraction to Alex. 'I'm sure it will be delightful,' she offered with a cool smile, but had to turn her head away to stare at the sea. In her mind's eye the sight of him standing so tall and broad, scantily clad in shorts and shirt, was doing something very peculiar to her breathing.

  Saffron stood leaning on the ship's rail, Anna beside her, as they watched the crew lower the gangway and the boat that in a few minutes would tate Alex and herself ashore. The island of Mykonos looked everything Anna had told her as they had lounged around the boat alt morning, relaxing and chatting.

  The yacht had dropped anchor in the bay of Mykonos Town, and the view was spectacular—sparkling white houses, the blue-topped domes of the small churches the place was famous for dotted among them, along with the impressive row of windmills, six marching in a line along the horizon. Tearing her gaze away from the beauty before her, Saffron tried once more to persuade Anna to accompany them.

  'I'll help you down into the boat, Anna. You will fee al righi, I promise. It seems a terrible shame for you to miss going ashore.'

  'Rubbish! Ican see all I want from here. Don't forget, Safffy, I have been here countless times.'

  'Well, if you're sure.'

  'Positive. I want you and Alex to forget about me and don't come back until you have seen the sunset from Little Venice.'

  Before Saffron could reply Alex was at her side. She glanced up at him and her heart jumped. He had changed from the morning into a pair of navy shorts and a navy and white patterned silk shirt, and he looked devastatingly attractive.

  'Ready, Saffron?* He drawled her same like a caress, sending tingles down her spine, 'Got your bathing suit?' he demanded, his dark eyes gleaming knowingly down into hers. He knew exactly how he affected her and obviously found it amusing.

  'Yes,' she said frostily, swinging her beach bag, and would have preceded tea down the gangway but a hand on her arsis stopped her.

  'Gentlemen first in this instance, then if you fall I am in front of you to prevent a hasty descení into the sea,' he explained, before releasing her am and stepping on to the ladder.

  The small boat reached the shore in minutes. A hire car was waiting for them and moments later they were speeding out of the town and into the countryside.

  'I thought we were going to see the town,' Saffron prompted, a bit miffed that Alex appeared to have a different idea.

  'We will later; first we will drive around the island, go for a swim maybe. There are some magnificent beaches. One or two nude ones if you prefer;' He shot her a wicked sidelong glance.

  'No way,' she snapped back.

  'Why not? It will be nothing we haven't seen before after this morning.'

  A telling tide of red suffused her face as for a second she saw in her mind's eye Alex as he had been that morning in her room—almost naked.

  Alex laughed out loud at her obvious discomfiture. 'OK, you win; bathing suits it is.'

  It was like a day out of time for Saffron. After that one bit of teasing in the car Alex set out to be charming company, and Saffron found her antagonism vanishing in a puff of smoke.

  They lunched on succulent fîsh on a bed of rice and fresh vegetables, at a small café alongside an almost deserted beach. Afterwards they lingered over their wine, and eventually strolled along the beach.

  She found Alex an informative and amusing conversationalist as he told her something of the island's history. Apparently not that long ago it had been just another tiny Greek island inhabited by shepherds and fishermen. But the stylised form of building all white with the distinctive blue touches had been seen as so picturesque that a crafty local had decided they should cash in on the tourist trade. Now it was extremely popular with all the cruise liners, but was never overrun, simply because the bigger ships could not dock. The only way ashore was by tender.

  By mid-afternoon the sun was much stronger in the sky and Alex suggested that they rest for a while. From the small duffel bag he was carrying he withdrew a towel and spread it on the golden sand, and Saffron followed suit, cautiously laying her own towel a foot away from his.

  'Spoilsport,' he murmured as casually he slipped out of his clothes and stood before her clad only in tiny black swimming-trunks that left little to the imagination.

  Saffron gulped and dragged her gaze away from such a blatant display of sheer masculine perfection. He might be nearly forty, she thought, but not a spare inch of flesh marred his tall, muscular frame; he had the body of a man in his prime, and she was beginning to wonder at the wisdom of being alone with him.


  'Race you to the water,' Alex challenged, and she had to look up at him.

  'You go—I'll catch you up.' She needed a couple of minutes alone to still her erratically beating heart. She watched as with a casual nod he turned and began to run down to where the turquoise water met the silvery sand. He was as enticing from the rear as from the front, his broad tanned back tapering down to gorgeous lean hips and long, muscular legs. God! What was she thinking of? In a rash she slipped off her plain denim skirt and the neat short-sleeved shirt she had worn over her swimsuit.

  She glanced down at herself, and wondered if the suit had been such a good idea. She had bought it for the cruise, thinking it was more conservative than a bikini, but now she had grave doubts. In jade-green, it was a simple figure-hugging Lycra suit with high cut-away legs almost to her waist, strapless and slashed straight across her breasts. Suddenly she saw just how provocative it was. How come she had never noticed before? she groaned silently, but it was too late to do anything about it now, and, taking a deep breath, she ran down and info the water. She could see Alex's head bobbing in the distance; he was a magnificent swimmer, but she had a sneaky suspicion that he was the kind of man who would do everything magnificently.